About Counseling

About Counseling

The following information is from a brochure, what to expect from your professional counselor, available at the attached link. To view or print this brochure in its entirety please Click Here.

The counseling relationship is a professional relationship helping you, the client to solve personal challenges and acquire more adaptive problem solving and communication skills. Some may seek counseling to cope with a loss or change in their life, and some to manage their depression, anxiety, or ADHD. The goals of your counseling are up to you.

Much of the success of the counseling experience depends on you. You are most likely to enjoy the benefits from counseling if you are motivated, honest, and willing to work at self-improvement and self-awareness. Be sure you have a good rapport /connection with your therapist. Be sure you “click”.

Your therapist can coordinate with your Primary Care doctor, or other health professionals, even your child’s school, to ensure that you are receiving the most appropriate care and services. In order for your therapist to consult, you must sign a written release to do so, specifically naming to whom, and specifically what information should be released. A written release will expire from one year of the date of the consent if not requested in writing that it be terminated earlier.

Your relationship with your counselor will be strictly professional and confidential. A counselor / therapist is not allowed to invite you into a business venture, barter for services, ask you for personal favors, or subcontract with you to do office work, or any type of dual relationship. A therapist can not engage in any personal or working relationship without informing you that future counseling with he or she will not be possible. Even after counseling has terminated a counselor may not engage in any relationship other than counseling, without informing you that future counseling with he or she will not be possible. A counselor may not engage in even friendship until at least two years have passed since the termination of counseling. This is a requirement of most Counseling Boards. Counselors / Therapists are held to a more stringent standard of ethical boundaries than your physician, clergy, or lawyer. This is an ethical standard to protect you the client.

To find out more about each therapist click on the link About Us. Once you have decided on a therapist, call their direct number to schedule your appointment. If you are uncertain who to choose, call the main number for additional information or recommendations at 512-864-0977.

If you plan to utilize your insurance, call the mental or behavioral health number on the back of your insurance card. Ask if the therapist you have chosen is in network or out of network. Is counseling covered? You will need to request an authorization number. Ask how many sessions that authorization will cover. Is there a deductible? What is my co-pay? Plans purchased on the retail marketplace or www.Healthcare.gov are different than traditional employer sponsored health plans. For example a provider on Humana PPO may not be in network on a Humana plan purchased on healthcare.gov .

For clients who chose to file insurance claims, please be aware that in order for your health insurance to pay for your session or to be reimbursed by your health care company, your therapist will be required to diagnose a mental health condition. Any diagnosis made will become part of your medical / insurance record. People seek counseling for many issues; not all will be covered by insurance. Private paying protects your privacy to a greater degree. You may choose to private pay in which case there is no requirement to report to your insurance company. You should consider if you may need a security clearance in the future for employment, military service, or if a diagnosis could affect your future ability to obtain life insurance.

You can also file a form called a super-bill to you insurance for out of network benefits which may be applied to your annual deductible, or for reimbursement from your insurance carrier from an out of network provider.

Insurance plans vary by contract with each employer. Mental and behavioral health coverage is often different than your general health coverage, and is often managed by an outsourced company. Be sure to bring your insurance information and authorization if required to your initial session. You will want to arrive about ten minutes early to fill out intake paperwork. You can also print these forms from the intake page. Fill them out in the convenience of your own home and bring them with you, or fax them to your therapist at 512-864-0930 prior to your appointment.

We look forward to helping you identify your goals for personal growth!